In order to safely navigate the Arctic Ocean, and conduct all the research experiments on your agenda, you need a ship like the Russian vessel Akademik Fedorov. Built in 1987 for the Soviet Union and named after Soviet polar explorer Evgeny Fedorov, this flagship of the Russian polar research fleet has already sailed to the North Pole. This is the same ship that will carry us around the top of the world, so that we may better understand Earth’s climate processes.
Ship Specifications
Name: Akademik Fedorov (or Akedemik Fyodorov)
Owner: Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (St. Petersburg, Russia)
Port of Registry: St. Petersburg, Russia
Build Location: Rauma, Finland
Launched: September 8, 1987
Maiden Voyage: October 24, 1987
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Number: 8519837
Status: In Service
Tonnage: 12,660 t
Displacement: 16,200 t
Length: 141.2 m
Beam: 23.5 m
Draft: 8.5 m
Speed: 16 knots (30km/hr, 18mi/hr)
Passenger Capacity: 172
Crew: 80
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Post your question or comment below, and I will reply!
Dear, Lindsay
My name is Daniella Guilarte from LEOM. And my question for you is what are you hoping to accomplish after you have been inspired by your experiences on this expedition?
Hi Daniella, hmmm, I think there are a lot of answers to your question actually. My first plan is to come back to Miami and continue working on creating new experiences and exhibits for you and everyone else that help people appreciate how cool science is. My other hope is that I have more amazing opportunities in the future to explore and learn more about the world!
Dear, Lindsay
My name is Ernesto and i am a student from law enforcement officers memorial high school. And i wanted to know what type of a monstrous engine will take to move that ship.
Hi Ernesto, there are actually 4 engines on the ship, with 22,000 horsepower, and it can crush through 3 feet thick ice and keep going!
Hello!
My name is Miss Mann and my 4th grade second technology class would like to know what type of gear do you wear? Have you seen any polar bears or penguins yet? Is it scary living on the ship? Do you ever get sea sick? We have lots of questions :). Hope you are enjoying your stay. Have fun!
Miss Mann’s 4th graders
Jackson Local Schools (Ohio)
Hi Miss Mann’s technology class! Gear is one of the most important things you can have in the Arctic. When you are outside for a couple hours (or more) in below freezing temperatures and lots of wind, wearing layers is the most important thing. Usually you wear 2 layers of pants, 2 layers on top (plus a heavy coat), 2 layers of socks, 2 layers of gloves (it’s the worst when your fingers get cold and you have to work on equipment at the same time), really good boots, hat, etc. When the scientists are out for several hours working on setting up the buoys in the ice, they even wear special suits over their clothes to protect themselves from the cold. Here’s some trivia for you – penguins and polar bears would never meet in nature, because penguins live in the extreme south, and polar bears live in the extreme north. So we have not seen penguins, but we have seen polar bears! It was an awesome sight to see. They were not very close, but we could tell they were curious about the big red noisy ship passing by, and then they walked off. It was so awesome! You might think living on the ship might be scary, but it’s really fine. Inside, the ship feels like a building or home, with hallways, stairs, kitchen, bedrooms, and meeting rooms. It’s just that outside the window there’s the ocean, and sometimes it gets bumpy and loud (when we’re going through ice), or it sways from side to side (when there are big waves). But the ship was built to handle all of it, so it takes good care of us. I have not gotten officially seasick (thank goodness) but on one day when we had 12 foot waves outside, the ship was rocking so much that I felt a little bit not right. Thanks for the questions, and ask more anytime!
hey lindsay sorry for so many questions but does your team and yourself use the helicopter pad at all ?
Hi Anthony, please never be worried about asking too many questions, because I’m so happy that you and so many others are interested in asking the questions! 🙂 The helicopter pad is definitely used on this ship (as is the “hangar” where helicopters could be kept while onboard), but we have not used one on this expedition. Helicopters would be used for example to deliver people and equipment onto the ice surrounding the ship in order to deploy observing instruments, but as you may have seen, we have used the onboard cranes to do that (which is still pretty cool!).